公开(公告)号：US07041953B2

公开(公告)日：2006-05-09

申请号：US10902624

申请日：2004-07-29

申请人： Robert W. Byren

发明人： Robert W. Byren

IPC分类号： G01J1/20

CPC分类号： G02B26/06 ,  G01J1/0266 ,  G01J9/00

摘要： A beam control system and method: The inventive system includes, an arrangement for receiving a first beam of electromagnetic energy; measuring wavefront aberrations in the first beam with a wavefront sensor; and removing global tilt from the measured wavefront aberrations to provide higher order aberrations for beam control. In the illustrative embodiment, the invention uses a traditional (quad-cell) Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor to measure wavefront aberrations. An adaptive optics processor electronically removes the global tilt (angular jitter) from this measurement leaving only the higher-order Zernike components. These higher-order aberrations are then applied to wavefront control elements, such as deformable mirrors or spatial light modulators that correct the tracker image and apply a conjugate distortion to the wavefront of the outgoing HEL beam. A track error (angular jitter) component is supplied by a separate fine track sensor. This jitter error is then applied by the adaptive optics processor to a fast steering mirror, which corrects jitter in the tracker image and applies a compensating distortion to the LOS of the HEL beam.

公开(公告)号：US06809307B2

公开(公告)日：2004-10-26

申请号：US09965764

申请日：2001-09-28

申请人： Robert W. Byren ,  Alvin F. Trafton

发明人： Robert W. Byren ,  Alvin F. Trafton

IPC分类号： G01J120

CPC分类号： F41H13/0043 ,  G02B26/06 ,  G02B27/0037 ,  G02B27/4233

摘要： A beam control system and method which utilizes the wavefront reversal property of nonlinear optical phase conjugation to permit incorporation of a liquid crystal OPA within the low power legs of the beam control system, thereby affording the advantages of the OPA without the power limitations thereof. The invention is adapted for use with a beacon for illuminating a target with a first beam of electromagnetic energy. The system includes a telescope (1010) for receiving a target return comprising a reflection of the first beam from the target. An optical phased array (1050) is included for correcting for aberrations in the wavefront of the target return. A mechanism is included for ascertaining the correction applied by the optical phased array to the target return. The mechanism applies the correction to a third beam which ultimately is the output beam. In the illustrative embodiment, the first beam of electromagnetic energy is optical energy and the mechanism includes a first phase conjugate mirror (1091) adapted to conjugate electromagnetic energy output by the third mechanism and a second phase conjugate mirror (1092) adapted to conjugate the output of the first phase conjugate mirror. The fourth mechanism further includes an amplifier (1088) for boosting the signal output by the second phase conjugate mirror (1092) to provide the output beam.

摘要翻译： 使用非线性光学相位共轭的波前反转特性以允许在光束控制系统的低功率支路内并入液晶OPA的光束控制系统和方法，从而提供OPA的优点而无需其功率限制。 本发明适用于与用第一光束电磁能照射目标的信标。 该系统包括用于接收目标返回的望远镜（1010），其包括来自目标的第一光束的反射。 包括用于校正目标返回波前的像差的光学相控阵列（1050）。 包括用于确定由光相位阵列施加到目标返回的校正的机制。 该机构将校正应用于最终是输出光束的第三光束。 在说明性实施例中，第一电磁能量束是光能，并且该机构包括适于共轭由第三机构输出的电磁能量的第一相位共轭反射镜（1091）和适于将输出 的第一相共轭镜。 第四机构还包括用于升高由第二相位共轭反射镜（1092）输出的信号以提供输出光束的放大器（1088）。

公开(公告)号：US6014391A

公开(公告)日：2000-01-11

申请号：US994422

申请日：1997-12-19

申请人： Robert W. Byren

发明人： Robert W. Byren

IPC分类号： H01S3/042 ,  H01S3/06 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/094 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/04

CPC分类号： H01S3/094 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/042 ,  H01S3/0606 ,  H01S3/0612 ,  H01S3/0617 ,  H01S3/08072 ,  H01S3/094084

摘要： Methods and apparatus for improving the thermal performance of a slab laser pump cavity is provided. Absorbing regions placed on either side of an active lasing region through which the active region is pumped provides uniform heat dissipation across the width of the slab thereby providing one-dimensional heat flow perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the lasing medium and maintaining uniform lensing and birefringence. Foreshortened cold plates in thermal communication with the active lasing region also provide improved thermal performance by providing uniform one-dimensional heat flow perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the lasing slab. In addition, a compliant thermal interface of variable thickness is provided to also improve the distribution of heat flow. Further, cooling channels located within the cold plates are located to achieve uniform one-dimensional heat flow.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于提高板式激光泵腔的热性能的方法和装置。 放置在激活有源区域被泵浦的主动激光区域的任一侧上的吸收区域提供穿过板坯宽度的均匀散热，从而提供垂直于激光介质的宽表面的一维热流并保持均匀的透镜和双折射 。 与激活的激光区域热连通的经过冷却的冷板还通过提供垂直于激光板的宽表面的均匀的一维热流而提供改进的热性能。 此外，还提供了可变厚度的柔性热界面，以改善热流的分布。 此外，位于冷板内的冷却通道被定位以实现均匀的一维热流。

公开(公告)号：US5974061A

公开(公告)日：1999-10-26

申请号：US994423

申请日：1997-12-19

申请人： Robert W. Byren ,  David S. Sumida ,  Hans W. Bruesselbach

发明人： Robert W. Byren ,  David S. Sumida ,  Hans W. Bruesselbach

IPC分类号： H01S3/042 ,  H01S3/06 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/094 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/04

CPC分类号： H01S3/094 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/042 ,  H01S3/0606 ,  H01S3/0612 ,  H01S3/08072 ,  H01S3/08095 ,  H01S3/094084

摘要： A laser pump cavity apparatus with integral concentrator provides improved thermal lensing control, cooling and fracture strength. The concentrator is formed around a doped solid-state laser medium by diffusion bonding, using a material different than the doped laser medium and with a substantially lower index of refraction, higher thermal conductivity and higher stress fracture strength than the doped laser crystal. The concentrator has a top cladding layer with a cylindrical focusing surface and a bottom cladding layer with a cylindrical focusing surface and may have edge cladding layers. Cold plates, each of which also has one cylindrical surface, are placed in thermal contact with the cylindrical surfaces of the top and bottom cladding layers. The cylindrical surfaces preferably have hyperbolic or quasi-hyperbolic shape. The laser pump cavity apparatus is preferably pumped with several laser diode arrays in directions transverse to a laser beam axis. The pumplight is injected from the laser diode arrays through the edge cladding layers in directions toward line foci of the cylindrical surfaces. The concentrator top and bottom cladding material is preferably sapphire and the doped solid-state laser medium is preferably Yb:YAG. The edge cladding layers are preferably thermally insulating to maintain a one-dimensional heat flow condition within the doped laser medium, by forming them of a material that has lower thermal conductivity than the material used for the top and bottom cladding layers. The edge cladding layers are preferably made of undoped YAG material

摘要翻译： 具有整体浓缩器的激光泵腔设备提供改进的热透镜控制，冷却和断裂强度。 集中器通过扩散接合形成在掺杂的固态激光介质周围，使用与掺杂的激光介质不同的材料，并且具有比掺杂的激光晶体低得多的折射率，更高的热导率和更高的应力断裂强度。 集中器具有具有圆柱形聚焦表面的顶部包层和具有圆柱形聚焦表面的底部包层，并且可以具有边缘包覆层。 它们中的每一个也具有一个圆柱形表面，与顶部和底部包层的圆柱形表面热接触。 圆柱形表面优选具有双曲线或准双曲线形状。 激光泵腔装置优选地在与激光束轴线横切的方向上用几个激光二极管阵列泵送。 该激光二极管阵列沿着朝向圆柱形表面的线焦点的方向通过边缘包覆层注入。 集中器顶部和底部包层材料优选是蓝宝石，并且掺杂的固态激光介质优选为Yb：YAG。 边缘覆层优选是隔热的，以通过形成具有比用于顶部和底部包层的材料低的导热性的材料来保持掺杂的激光介质内的一维热流条件。 边缘覆层优选由未掺杂的YAG材料制成

公开(公告)号：US08792163B2

公开(公告)日：2014-07-29

申请号：US12410772

申请日：2009-03-25

申请人： William B. King ,  Chungte W. Chen ,  Robert W. Byren ,  Lacy G. Cook

发明人： William B. King ,  Chungte W. Chen ,  Robert W. Byren ,  Lacy G. Cook

IPC分类号： G02B23/00

CPC分类号： G02B26/06 ,  G02B26/0816

摘要： In one or more embodiments, a beam control apparatus and method for correcting aberrations include an off-aperture telescope configured to receive a beam of electromagnetic energy, wherein the telescope includes a first optical element and a second optical element. The second optical element is configured to be translated in three orthogonal axes, and a wavefront error sensor is configured to detect aberrations in the beam and to provide a wavefront error signal in response thereto. A processor is configured to provide a correction signal in response to the wavefront error signal, and an actuator is coupled to the second optical element and configured, in response to the wavefront error signal, to selectively translate the second optical element in one or more of three substantially orthogonal directions corresponding to the three orthogonal axes.

摘要翻译： 在一个或多个实施例中，用于校正像差的光束控制装置和方法包括被配置为接收电磁能量束的孔外望远镜，其中望远镜包括第一光学元件和第二光学元件。 第二光学元件被配置为在三个正交轴中平移，并且波前误差传感器被配置为检测波束中的像差并响应于此提供波前差信号。 处理器被配置为响应于波前误差信号提供校正信号，并且致动器耦合到第二光学元件，并且被配置为响应于波前误差信号，以选择性地平移第二光学元件中的一个或多个 对应于三个正交轴的三个基本正交的方向。

公开(公告)号：US07995631B2

公开(公告)日：2011-08-09

申请号：US11404338

申请日：2006-04-14

申请人： David S. Sumida ,  Robert W. Byren ,  Michael Ushinsky

发明人： David S. Sumida ,  Robert W. Byren ,  Michael Ushinsky

IPC分类号： H01S3/16

CPC分类号： H01S3/0612 ,  H01S3/061 ,  H01S3/1618 ,  H01S3/1643

摘要： A material having a surface and a dopant in the material distributed whereby the material has a spatially variant optical flux density profile. In accordance with the invention, tailored non-uniform gain profiles within a Yb:YAG laser component (rod, slab, disc, etc.) are achieved by a spatial material modification in the spatially masked pre-forms. High temperature-assisted reduction leads to the coordinate-dependent gain profiles, which are controlled by the topology of the deposited solid masks. The gain profiles are obtained by reducing the charge state of the laser-active trivalent Yb3+ ions into inactive divalent Yb2+ ions. This valence conversion process is driven by mass transport of ions and oxygen vacancies. These processes, in turn, affect the dopant distribution throughout the surface and bulk laser crystal.

摘要翻译： 在材料中具有表面和掺杂剂的材料被分配，由此材料具有空间上不同的光通量密度分布。 根据本发明，Yb：YAG激光器部件（棒，板，盘等）中的定制的不均匀增益分布通过在空间掩蔽的预成型件中的空间材料修改来实现。 高温辅助还原导致坐标依赖增益曲线，其由沉积的固体掩模的拓扑结构来控制。 通过将激光活性三价Yb3 +离子的电荷状态降低成无活性的二价Yb2 +离子获得增益曲线。 该价电子转化过程由离子和氧空位的质量传递驱动。 这些过程又影响整个表面和体激光晶体的掺杂剂分布。

公开(公告)号：US06996137B2

公开(公告)日：2006-02-07

申请号：US10119462

申请日：2002-08-06

申请人： Robert W. Byren ,  David S. Sumida

发明人： Robert W. Byren ,  David S. Sumida

IPC分类号： H01S3/11 ,  H01S3/16

CPC分类号： H01S3/113 ,  H01S3/061 ,  H01S3/0617 ,  H01S3/094084 ,  H01S3/0941 ,  H01S3/1623 ,  H01S3/1643 ,  H01S3/1681

摘要： A solid state, laser light control device (20, 30) and material (10), and methods of producing same. The device (20, 30) and material (10) consist essentially of a host material (14) which contains: a dopant species (16) at a first valence state (a), the concentration of which increases with distance from the surface (18); and the same dopant species (16) at a second valence state (b), the concentration which decreases with distance from the surface (18). The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a doped solid state material (14); exposing the solid state material (14) to elevated temperature, for a period of time, in an oxidizing or reducing atmosphere. The elevated temperature and time of exposure are selected to change the valence state (a) of the dopant (16) in direct proportion to distance from the surface (18) of the solid state material (16). What is thereby produced is a solid state device (20, 30) in which the concentration of the dopant 16 at the second valence state (b) decreases with radius, the concentration of the dopant (16) at the first valence state (a) increases with radius, and the sum of these concentrations remains constant.

摘要翻译： 固态激光控制装置（20,30）和材料（10）及其制造方法。 装置（20,30）和材料（10）基本上由主体材料（14）组成，其包含：处于第一价态（a）的掺杂剂物质（16），其浓度随距离表面的距离而增加 18）; 和与第二价态（b）相同的掺杂剂物质（16），其浓度随距表面18的距离而减小。 该方法包括以下步骤：获得掺杂固体材料（14）; 在氧化或还原气氛中将固态材料（14）暴露于升高的温度一段时间。 选择升高的温度和曝光时间以与固态材料（16）的表面（18）的距离成正比的方式改变掺杂剂（16）的化合价态（a）。 由此产生的是固态装置（20,30），其中第二价态（b）的掺杂剂16的浓度随着半径而减小，掺杂剂（16）处于第一价态（a）的浓度， 半径增加，这些浓度的总和保持不变。

公开(公告)号：US06567452B2

公开(公告)日：2003-05-20

申请号：US09862956

申请日：2001-05-22

申请人： Robert W. Byren ,  David F. Rock ,  Cheng-Chih Tsai

发明人： Robert W. Byren ,  David F. Rock ,  Cheng-Chih Tsai

IPC分类号： H01S314

CPC分类号： H01S3/09415 ,  H01S3/0606 ,  H01S3/0612 ,  H01S3/0617 ,  H01S3/094084

摘要： A concentrator including a volume of at least partially transmissive material and a plurality of facets disposed at at least one surface thereof. Each of the facets is disposed at a position dependent angle relative to the surface effective to cause an internal reflection of energy applied to the layer whereby the density of the applied energy varies as a function of position. In the illustrative implementation, the volume is an active medium, i.e., a slab. The slab has substantially parallel, planar upper and lower surfaces and first and second edges therebetween. A plurality of cladding layers are disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the slab. The facets are provided in the cladding layers on the upper and lower surfaces of the slab and angled as a function of distance relative to the first or the second edge. The facets provide a Fresnel reflecting surface or a binary optic surface.

摘要翻译： 一种集中器，包括至少部分透射材料的体积和设置在其至少一个表面上的多个小面。 每个小面相对于表面以相对于角度的位置设置，有效地引起施加到层的能量的内部反射，由此所施加的能量的密度作为位置的函数而变化。 在说明性实施中，体积是活性介质，即板坯。 板坯具有基本上平行的平面上表面和下表面以及其间的第一和第二边缘。 多个包覆层设置在板坯的上表面和下表面上。 小面设置在板坯的上表面和下表面上的包覆层中，并且作为相对于第一或第二边缘的距离的函数而成角度。 面提供了菲涅耳反射表面或二元光学表面。

公开(公告)号：US4812639A

公开(公告)日：1989-03-14

申请号：US810808

申请日：1985-12-19

申请人： Robert W. Byren ,  David A. Rockwell

发明人： Robert W. Byren ,  David A. Rockwell

IPC分类号： G01C15/00 ,  F41G9/00 ,  G01B11/27 ,  G02F1/35 ,  H01S3/00 ,  H01S3/101 ,  G02F1/00

CPC分类号： G01B11/27

摘要： A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a laser beam that is automatically aligned with a substantially rigid, stabilized platform or frame that can be oriented over a wide angular range, such as by the gimbals of a laser pointing and tracking system. A single-transverse-mode master laser oscillator 12 is mounted on the stabilized platform 13 which is part of the inner gimbal, which can be rotated about an elevation axis 16, and a multipass laser amplifier 21 wiht a phase conjugation mirror 22 and an optional nonlinear frequency-conversion device 20 are located off the inner gimbal. An outer gimbal or pedestal mount permits rotation about an azimuthal axis 17. The laser oscillator 12 and laser amplifier 21 are coupled by means of a beamsplitter 15 and two reflecting elements 18 and 19. The laser media used for the oscillator 12 and amplifier 21 are either the same, or compatible media having the same wavelength. In an alternative embodiment the two reflecting elements are replaced by a flexible ligh waveguide such as a glass fiber. The phase conjugation mirror 22 compensates the beam for the effects of optical aberrations caused by thermally induced changes in the amplifier medium and the nonlinear medium (if used) and also compensates the beam for angular tilt and jitter in the beam line of sight due to structural flexibility and motion of the stabilized platform. Four different embodiments are described in which the phase conjunction mirror is based on stimulated Brillouin scattering, degenerate four-wave mixing, three-wave mixing, and photon echo effects, respectively.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于提供激光束的方法和装置，其自动地与可以在宽角度范围（例如通过激光瞄准和跟踪系统的万向面）定向的基本上刚性稳定的平台或框架对准。 单横模式主激光振荡器12安装在稳定平台13上，稳定平台13是可以围绕仰角16旋转的内万向架的一部分，以及多相激光放大器21，其具有相位共轭反射镜22和可选 非线性频率转换装置20位于内部万向节之外。 外部万向节或基座安装允许围绕方位轴线17旋转。激光振荡器12和激光放大器21通过分束器15和两个反射元件18和19耦合。用于振荡器12和放大器21的激光介质是 相同或兼容的介质具有相同的波长。 在替代实施例中，两个反射元件被诸如玻璃纤维之类的柔性多孔波导代替。 相位共轭反射镜22补偿光束对放大器介质和非线性介质（如果使用）中的热诱导变化引起的光学像差的影响，并且还补偿光束由于结构而在光束视线中的角度倾斜和抖动 稳定平台的灵活性和运动性。 描述了四个不同的实施例，其中相位镜分别基于受激布里渊散射，简并四波混频，三波混频和光子回波效应。

公开(公告)号：US4798462A

公开(公告)日：1989-01-17

申请号：US811793

申请日：1985-12-20

申请人： Robert W. Byren

发明人： Robert W. Byren

IPC分类号： F41G3/00 ,  G01B11/27 ,  G02B26/10 ,  G02F1/35 ,  G02F1/37 ,  H01S3/00 ,  G01B11/26

CPC分类号： G01B11/27

摘要： A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a self-aligning phase conjugate laser beam that is automatically boresighted with an active or passive tracking sensor. A single-transverse-mode laser oscillator 12 and a tracking sensor 14 are mounted on opposite sides of an output coupling beamsplitter 15, all attached to a stabilized platform 13 which is part of the inner gimbal of a pointing and tracking system. A multipass laser amplifier 21 with a phase conjugation mirror 22 and an optional nonlinear frequency-conversion device 20 are located off the inner gimbal. The inner gimbal allows rotation of the stabilized platform about an elevation axis 16, and an outer gimbal or pedestal mount permits rotation about an azimuthal axis 17. The phase conjugation mirror 22 compensates the beam for the effects of optical aberrations caused by thermally induced changes in the amplifier medium and the nonlinear medium (if used) and also compensates the beam for angular tilt and jitter in the beam line of sight due to structural flexibility and motion of the stabilized platform. Part of the oscillator output passes through the beamsplitter to the tracking sensor to mark the far-field location of the amplified output beam. The tracking sensor also views a target image after it is reflected by the beamsplitter. The tracking system measures the angular displacement between the target aimpoint and the locus of the output beam as marked by the oscillator and generates tracking error signals which are used to close a servomechanical feedback loop around the gimbal orientation apparatus. Pointing errors resulting from misalignment of the oscillator, the tracking sensor, and the beamsplitter are compensated by this technique.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于提供自动对准相位共轭激光束的方法和装置，该自对准相位共轭激光束由主动或被动跟踪传感器自动瞄准。 单横模激光振荡器12和跟踪传感器14安装在输出耦合分束器15的相对侧上，全部连接到稳定的平台13，该稳定平台13是指向和跟踪系统的内部万向节的一部分。 具有相位共轭反射镜22和可选的非线性频率转换装置20的多路径激光放大器21位于内万向架外。 内部万向架允许稳定平台围绕高度轴16旋转，并且外部万向架或基座安装件允许围绕方位角轴线17旋转。相位共轭反射镜22补偿光束对由热诱导的变化引起的光学像差的影响 放大器介质和非线性介质（如果使用），并且还由于稳定平台的结构灵活性和运动而补偿光束在束视线中的角度倾斜和抖动。 振荡器输出的一部分通过分束器传送到跟踪传感器，以标记放大的输出光束的远场位置。 跟踪传感器在被分光镜反射之后也可以观察目标图像。 跟踪系统测量由振荡器标记的目标瞄准点和输出光束轨迹之间的角位移，并产生跟踪误差信号，用于关闭万向方向装置周围的伺服机械反馈回路。 通过这种技术补偿由振荡器，跟踪传感器和分束器的未对准引起的指向误差。